Michigan Nuclear Restart: Regulators Cite Fear at Palisades

Regulators issued a formal warning to Holtec International on October 23.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) identified a 'chilled work environment' at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. This condition made employees hesitant to raise safety concerns due to fear of retaliation.

The warning followed an inspection conducted in July. That review was triggered by two distinct safety incidents. In one case, a contractor fell into the reactor cavity and swallowed water. Radiation protection staff decontaminated the worker, yet 300 counts per minute were still detected in their hair. The worker required off-site medical care. In a second incident in August, a bundle of nuclear fuel rods tilted during a refueling operation. This event delayed the project, which was expected to be the first restart of a closed nuclear reactor in the United States.

The NRC also reported poor performance on licensing exams. Nine of the 15 reactor operators at Palisades failed the initial license examination administered in July and August. Only six individuals received operator licenses.

Holtec International has never operated a nuclear power plant before. The company has secured approximately $2.2 billion in government support for the Palisades effort. This project is central to the administration's push to revive the domestic nuclear industry.

Critics argue that financial and political pressure to revitalize nuclear power could raise the likelihood of accidents. This pressure is partly driven by surging energy demand from artificial intelligence.

Palisades is one of several shuttered facilities seeking a comeback. Owners of Two other plants slated for decommissioning announced restart plans soon after work began at Palisades. These sites are Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa.